Vibrant colors among popular decorating themes

August 23, 2013

Splashes of vibrant colors are still being included in homeowners' Florida style decorating themes.

Evalutions by Aubuchon Decorator Diana Daniel Agathos said homeowners always use several palates of colors when decorating a specific room. She said the most popular color at this point are off-whites, warm whites and cashmere's, as well as teals, blues and corals. In addition, variations of bright, deep blues and greens are also being used.

"Yellow is another great color," Daniel Agathos said.

She said yellow is a great, happy color that is pleasant to work with.

"They are really relating to the outdoors and bringing the same colors in," Daniel Agathos said of the variations of colors.

The great thing about the variations, she said, is it can be used in a casual elegant, casual fun or casual sophisticated atmospheres.

"There are so many different directions you can take to the theme," Daniel Agathos said.

The colors, she said, are used on accent walls as the focal point.

Caribbean Home Emporium owner Barb Hire said she is still seeing homeowners gravitate towards bright colors such as aqua, turquoise, melon and orange.

"Bright colors are still very much in," she said.

In terms of furniture, Daniel Agathos said painted furniture, as well as mirrored furniture, is still popular for decorating a home because of the transitional feel. She said off-whites, blues, greens, corals and turquoise are being used for the furniture.

Furniture with medium brown woods are also being utilized in the homes due to its earthy, casual feel.

Hire said many of her customers are using a lot of reclaimed wood that is mixed with different colors. She said homeowners are also using distressed pieces of wood.

"The focus is still on finding unique and different and a lot of color," Hire said, adding that homeowners are keeping a causal feel to their home while merging different styles together to create an eclectic look.

She said the eclectic look is popular because people are bringing some of their favorite pieces furniture with them to Florida. They are combining those pieces with new pieces and colors.

"A little bit of everything kind of goes," Hire said

How to incorporate lighting to enhance a room is also a trend that is ever changing when decorating.

Daniel Agathos said in terms of lighting, homeowners are including pendant lights that are hung from the ceiling.

"We have opted quite a bit to do pendant or chandeliers in place of ceiling fans in the great room, or the more common area room for people," she said.

As far as design, Daniel Agathos said individuals are incorporating nickel finishes with white opaque glass lighting as well. Such pieces as jeweled tone lighting with rich and striking color tones within design elements are also being used for lighting.

Hire said she is seeing individual's use accent lighting in art forms to enhance a room.

Daniel Agathos said homeowners are also adding painted canvas artwork to rooms, as well as bringing the outdoors inside.

Hire, on the other hand, said individuals are including mixed media art to their walls that have a metal base instead of a canvas base.

Hire said homeowners are also adding pictures and statues of mermaids and geckos to their walls because it is unexpected. She said it's about putting something whimsical with something serious.

Daniel Agathos said homeowners are adding stained glass to their homes that includes mermaids, peacocks, nautical ship wheels and honk shells.

Evalutions by Aubuchon main office is located at 4707 S.E. 9th Place in Cape Coral. For more information, call 239-549-6881.

Caribbean Home Emporium is located at 13261 McGregor Blvd., Suite 105, in Fort Myers. For more information, call 239-267-8819.